BALFIN Group hosted its annual Executive Leadership Meeting (ELT), bringing together the CEOs from its 11 companies. As per tradition, the meeting spanned two days, during which each executive reviewed the achievements of 2024 and presented their objectives for 2025. The first day focused on the retail sector, with presentations from several executives outlining their strategies for the next three years.
The meeting opened with a speech from BALFIN Group CEO Edlira Muka, who emphasized the group’s international ambitions. Muka highlighted the need to continue efforts in professional development, both individually and as a group, while fostering synergies within the organization. She stressed the importance of business sustainability and expanding operations in international markets. Furthermore, she underscored the expertise of BALFIN’s CEOs and employees, describing it as a “powerful asset” for the Group’s journey, alongside investments in cutting- edge technology.
Muka also shared impressive results from 2024, with a 16% increase in turnover and a 38% rise in net profits, marking significant progress despite external difficulties.
“We are an international company with a global focus, aiming to recruit talent from all over the world to drive our growth. The excellent results of 2024 motivate us to remain faithful to our mission: to continue building strong, sustainable, and innovative companies while helping employees grow. Most importantly, we will keep working on expanding the Group’s presence in international markets,” said Edlira Muka.
BALFIN Group President Samir Mane was present at the meeting, where he stressed the importance of digital transformation. In his speech, he focused on the adoption of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and automated process solutions. According to him, these mechanisms will be essential to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“One of our greatest responsibilities is preparing for the future workforce. We need to identify critical skills that will be indispensable in the coming years and ensure our teams are equipped to handle them. A key focus should be on AI literacy, understanding and effectively utilizing AI solutions will be a fundamental skill across industries,” said Samir Mane. “We must prioritize training and upskilling existing employees while also incorporating these competencies into our recruitment strategies to attract top talent,” he added.
Mane also emphasized the importance of reputation management in the digital age, pointing out that companies must be vigilant in maintaining a positive public image and engaging with customers and stakeholders online.
On the first day of the meeting Juljan Mane, Vice President of Retail, presented an update on the performance of the retail sector and its strategic direction.
He focused on BALFIN Group’s plans to expand its regional and international presence with existing markets like Neptun, Spar, Jumbo, and the recent launch of Kiabi in Albania.
Juljan Mane highlighted the group’s ambition to achieve a more balanced global presence, with plans for international market expansion. His vision centers on driving growth through innovation, regional expansion, and improving overall customer experience.
Juljan’s presentation was followed by those of the CEOs from the other companies, who provided a comprehensive overview of their 2024 achievements and presented strategic objectives and priorities for 2025, aligning with the Group’s overarching vision.
The second day of the BALFIN Group Executive Leadership Meeting maintained a professional and results-driven atmosphere, with CEOs from the Group’s companies delivering sequential presentations. These focus on outlining key accomplishments and presenting strategic objectives aligned with the Group’s vision for future growth. Ardiana Sokoli, Vice President of Real Estate, delivered an overview of the opportunities and challenges shaping the sector’s future.
Sokoli highlighted the growing demand for ecological investments that are efficient in energy use. However, she also noted that to continue growing, BALFIN will need to look beyond Albania, targeting neighboring countries and international markets to mitigate the risk of market saturation in the domestic market.
The annual BALFIN Group Executive Leadership Meeting concluded on a highly productive note, fostering an even stronger synergy among the Group’s companies and solidifying their collective commitment to future growth. The meeting underscored the Group’s unified vision of reinforcing its position as a leading regional player while strategically advancing its presence in international markets. With a clear roadmap and aligned objectives, BALFIN Group is poised to drive innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable development across its diverse portfolio, ensuring continued success in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
